Fireplace extinguisher

ABSTRACT

A lightweight, essentially airtight chamber for extinguishing fireplace fires. The chamber is constructed of a plurality of flanged panels which may be assembled with metal screws and is of trapezoidal construction, tapering inwardly and upwardly from the front to the rear thereof. By forming the chamber from a series of panels, it may be packaged in a convenient size for shipping and, if desired, may be disassembled during periods of nonuse to facilitate storage. The tapered configuration of the chamber adapts it for use in the majority of fireplaces, which are of a tapered configuration, and also provides additional head room adjacent the rear of the chamber for large logs on the fireplace grate. In addition, the unique structure of the chamber renders assembly virtually foolproof even for an unskilled mechanic.

United States Patent [1 1 Murphy June 17, 1975 FIREPLACE EXTINGUISHER [57] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: John R. Murphy, Simms Bldg, A lightweight, essentially airtight chamber for extin- Dayton, Ohio 45402 guishing fireplace fires. The chamber is constructed of [22] Filed: Dec 17, 1973 a plurality of flanged panels which may be assembled with metal screws and is of trapezoidal construction. [21] Appl. No.: 425,492 tapering inwardly and upwardly from the front to the rear thereof. By forming the chamber from a series of panels, it may be packaged in a convenient size for Shipping and, if desired, may be disassembled during [58] d 50 51 52 periods of nonuse to facilitate storage. The tapered 1e ear configuration of the chamber adapts it for use in the majority of fireplaces, which are of a tapered configu- [56] References Cited ration, and also provides additional head room adja- UNITED STATES PATENTS cent the rear of the chamber for large logs on the fire- 2,340,945 2/1944 Ellick 169/49 place grate. In addition, the unique structure of the 3 3 1 3 xcFermn chamber renders assembly virtually foolproof even for 2,596,39 51 5 ammett.... a u killed mechanic 3,093,193 6/1963 Schantz 169/49 n ns Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerMichael Mar Attorney, Agent, or FirmBiebel, French & Bugg 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FIREPLACE EXTINGUISHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In addition to being considered generally a decorative and attractive feature in many homes, fireplaces have taken on an added utilitarian aspect in light of the current energy crisis and limited supplies of conventional heating fuels.

Aside from this, however, fireplaces present a very real hazard, particularly where a fire in the fireplace is left unattended in the evening when the residents of the household retire. In addition to the hazards presented, merely allowing the fire to burn out represents a waste in fuel.

Of course, the fire could be extinguished by dousing it with water or pouring sand over it. This is generally considered impractical, however, not only because provision must be made for storing the sand or water, but also because of the steam and splattering which results when water is applied to the fire, the mess that results in the fireplace if either sand or water is used, and the difficulty which results in attempting to rekindle the fire after extinguishing in this manner. A further factor is possible grate breakage that might occur if water were applied to a hot metal grate.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,193 discloses a fire extinguisher useful for smothering or extinguishing glowing embers in a barbecue grill, which comprises a circular shell having a top portion which includes a thick layer of heat insulating material and which operates by seating the rim of the shell in a soft material in the grill to exclude air from the charcoal.

Although satisfactory for barbecue grills, the fire extinguisher of U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,193 would appear at least inefficient, if not useless, for extinguishing fires in most conventional fireplaces. To begin with, the fire extinguisher of U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,193 is round and few fireplaces or grates are round. Additionally, the fire in a fireplace is generally not a neat, flat, little pile of glowing embers, as is found in a barbecue grill.

Further, the fire in a fireplace is rather large, as compared with the charcoal bed in a barbecue grill, and so to scale up the fire extinguisher of U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,193 would result in a large, bulky and probably very expensive fireplace extinguisher, especially considering the insulation costs.

The bulk of a large, round, one-piece cover is a factor, not only in handling during use, but in that it can add substantially to the cost involved in shipping the unit and present problems in storage during periods of nonuse.

Therefore, a need exists for a fire extinguisher which is useful in extinguishing a fire in a fireplace, including glowing embers, burning logs, and the like, while being simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to an improved fire extinguisher particularly adapted for extinguishing fireplace fires. In particular the invention comprises a plurality of flanged metal panels which form a compact package for shipping and storage, but which are capable of being assembled with simple fastening means, such as metal screws, into a substantially airtight extinguishing chamber.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the extinguisher has a trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration in both side and plan elevation, tapering upwardly and inwardly from front to rear.

This provides additional space or head room" at the rear of the chamber for firewood extending or projecting above the height of the grate, and adapts the chamber for positioning within most conventional fireplaces, which are typically tapered inwardly from front to rear.

As mentioned previously, the fireplace fire extinguisher may be shipped unassembled in a compact package and easily assembled by one with minimum mechanical aptitude and one basic tool, such as a screwdriver, to provide a substantially airtight chamber, and subsequently disassembled, if desired, for more convenient storage. In this regard, the unique configuration of the chamber not only functions as described above, but renders it virtually impossible to assemble the chamber in any but the proper configuration.

While any relatively noncombustible material may be used, the panels are preferably made of rust-proof aluminum, which, when assembled in accordance with the teachings of the invention, provides a strong, lightweight, airtight chamber.

Handles of low thermal capacity and/or heat resistant material are attached to the top panel of the chamber and permit the chamber to be easily handled while positioning and removing the chamber into and out of the fireplace.

To use the improved fireplace extinguisher of the invention, the handles are grasped and the chamber is placed over, so as to cover and enclose, the fire and grate, with the bottom edges of the chamber resting on the fireplace floor.

The fire consumes the oxygen in the air trapped inside the chamber, filling it with nonflammable gases which can neither readily escape nor support combustion. Without the necessary oxygen, the flow of which has been cut off by the chamber, the combustion quickly ceases and the fire goes out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fireplace extinguisher in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section taken along lines 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fireplace extinguisher positioned in a typical fireplace; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fireplace extinguisher taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 1 and showing it in use over a fireplace grate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, which depict a preferred embodiment of the invention, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fireplace extinguisher is shown generally at 10. Fireplace extinguisher 10 comprises a top panel 12, front panel 13, back panel 14, and side panels 15 and 16, which together form a substantially airtight chamber 17 for covering and enclosing a fire in order to cut off oxygen and extinguish it.

Handles 20 and 21 are provided to lift and place extinguisher 10 without experiencing discomfort from the heat of the fire. Handles and 21 are made of material having a low thermal capacity and or being heat resistant, such as wood, plastic, and the like, and may be attached using screws or the like, such as screws 18 and 19.

Panels 12-16 are preferably made of rust-proof aluminum, but other metals or heat resistant materials can also be used to make the panels. The advantage of using aluminum panels is their relatively light weight, as compared to, for example, steel panels, and the fact that they are rustproof.

All the panels 12-16 are generally quadrilaterally shaped. Top panel 12 and side panels 15 and 16 are preferably trapeziums, whereby, when the panels are assembled the width of the chamber will decrease from front to back, while the height will increase from front to back. The resulting trapezoidal horizontal crosssection permits the extinguisher to be used in most fireplaces, especially those having the typical tapered configuration from front to back, such as fireplace 22 shown in FIG. 4. Also, the chamber will conform to the shape of most basket-type grates.

The front to back rise in the height of the chamber provides head room, which allows a fire to be snuffed-out even when the firewood projects above the grate, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Alternatively, head room can be provided by making top panel 12 in a domed or semi-cylindrical shape, or peaked or the like.

FIG. 2 best illustrates the manner in which panels 12-16 are joined to form an airtight chamber. Generally, the panels possess flange means which are interengaged in an overlapping, contacting and sealing relationship and joined by a fastening means, such as sheet metal screws and the like, through complementary screw holes in the flange means.

It is this relationship of the flanges, which are secured together by fasteners which results in the panels forming a substantially airtight chamber capable of quickly and efficiently extinguishing fires. But, by removing the fasteners, the chamber may be reduced in size for shipment or storage.

Top panel 12 possesses flanges -33 extending downwardly from all of the peripheral surfaces thereof. Side flanges 30 and 31 will extend at angles of approximately 90, while front and rear flanges 32 and 33 extend at angles of approximately 95 and 85, respectively.

Front panel 13 and back panel 14 have flanges 35-38 extending from the vertical peripheral surfaces. As illustrated, flanges 35 and 36 on front panel 13 extend rearwardly at angles of approximately 85, while flanges 37 and 38 on rear panel 14 extend frontwardly at angles approximately 95.

Side panels 15 and 16 have flanges 39-42 extending inwardly from the vertical peripheral edge portions 43-46 which have been stepped inwardly by a series of 90 angles 47-54. As is more particularly shown in FIG. 3, steps 55 and 56 on panel 16 are formed by bending the ends of the panel first in an inward direction, at approximately 90 as at 49 and 53, and then laterally, at approximately 90 as at 50 (which can also be considered a frontward bend) and 54 (which can also be considered a rearward bend). Panel 16 terminates at its vertical peripheral edge portions 44 and 46 in inwardly projecting flanges and 42. Flange 40 which engages panel 13 is at an angle of approximately 85, while flange 42 which engages panel 14 is at an angle of approximately 95. Thus, lateral or edge portions 44 and 46 are inwardly offset in a plane parallel to the plane of the panel, with flanges 40 and 42 extending approximately normally. The length of step portions 57 and 58 will be approximately the same dimension as the wall thickness of flanges 36 and 38, while the length of edge portions 44 and 46 will be approximately the same as the length of flanges 36 and 38. The same will be true with respect to side panel 15, and flanges 39 and 41 will extend at angles of approximately and respectively.

When the chamber is assembled (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3), flange 42 and edge portion 46 (for example) will seat in overlapping, contacting and sealing relationship in the corner angle formed by panel 14 and flange 38. Step 56 will aid in the seating of the corner because the forwardly extending edge of flange 38 will abut against step portion 58, and form a further seal. The other three corners will seat in the same manner. When panels 13-16 have been interengaged by seating the four corners, the flanges thereof are secured by fastener means, such as self-threading sheet metal screws 60 secured in screw holes 61. If desired, the screw holes could be beveled, so that a flush exterior is presented once the screws are in place. Once secured, the four corners of the chamber become substantially airtight.

Another advantage of the particular cover structure of the present invention is that the panels are guided into the proper seating arrangement preparatory to securing the panels with sheet metal screws. In this regard it should be noted that the screw openings in the outer members are oversize, that is, larger than the shanks of the screws, while the openings in the underlying members are undersized. This arrangement facilitates joining the panels with the screws since the openings in the underlying and overlying portions of the panels need not be aligned precisely in order to start a screw into the smaller hole in the underlying portion of the panel. The oversize holes may be simply elongated, or preferably, of larger diameter to accommodate a slight misalignment in any direction.

Top panel 12 is attached by placing it over the upper edges of panels 13-16, in the same manner that a top is placed on a shoe box. The upper edges of the front, back and side panels abut the lower surface of the top panel to provide a substantially airtight joint and are held in this relationship by the downwardly extending flanges 30-33 secured to panels 13-16 by self-tapping sheet metal screws or the like in the same manner as the front, back and side panels are secured. The assembled chamber is illustrated in FIG. 1. As can be appreciated, the construction of the substantially airtight fireplace extinguisher of the invention is such as to make assembly virtually foolproof, even to an unskilled person. There is no extensive handling of complicated tools, as the only tool necessary for assembly is a screw driver or the like.

A further result is that the exterior of front, back and side panels 13-16 present a relatively continuous exterior, allowing for the application of aesthetically pleasing decor finishes to the exterior.

The angles have been chosen so that, using trapezoidally shaped top and side panels, the assembled chamber will converge in width, while rising in height, from front to back. But, the invention is not limited to those angles, and so variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates extinguisher in use covering a fire 70 of logs seated on a grate 71. When extinguisher 10 is in place, the air surrounding the fire is trapped inside chamber 17, and further air is prevented from entering the chamber since gases trapped in the extinguisher cannot escape. The fire consumes the oxygen in the trapped air. Since the chamber 17 is substantially airtight, it shuts off the supply of oxygen-containing air needed to support combustion, and extinguishes the fire. The fire will then have been quickly'extinguished without the mess or inconvenience of water or sand, and the surface of the burned firewood is ready for immediate reuse without the necessity of cleaning or drying it.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fire extinguisher of the type described, adapted to extinguish fires in a fireplace, including glowing embers, burning logs, and the like, comprising generally quadrilaterally shaped top, front, back and side panels, said panels possessing flange means for detachably interconnecting said panels, said front and back and said side panels being generally opposed, extending from the peripheral edges of said top panel, and forming in combination with said top panel an airtight chamber which, when placed over and enclosing a fire, prevents further combustion and extinguishes said fire, and said flanges being joined to one another by fastener means whereby said chamber is readily assembled for use and readily disassembled for storage or shipment.

2. A fire extinguisher as in claim 1 wherein the said top panel is substantially trapezoidally shaped.

3. A fire extinguisher as in claim 2 wherein the said side panels are substantially trapezoidally shaped.

4. A fire extinguisher of the type described, adapted to extinguish fires in fireplaces including glowing embers, burning logs and the like, comprising a. a generally quadrilaterally shaped metal, top panel having front, back and side flanges extending downwardly from all of the peripheral surfaces thereof,

b. a generally quadrilaterally shaped, metal, front panel having flanges extending rearwardly from the vertical peripheral surfaces thereof,

c. a generally quadrilaterally shaped, metal, rear panel being generally opposed to said front panel and having flanges extending frontwardly from ther vertical peripheral surfaces thereof,

(1. generally quadrilaterally shaped, metal, side panels, being generally opposed to one another and having flanges extending inwardly from the vertical peripheral edges thereof, said edges being stepped inwardly, whereby said front, back and side panels may be interengaged by seating said flanges into a contacting and sealing corner relationship and said top panel may be interconnected by bringing it into overlying and sealing relationship with top, peripheral unflanged edges of said front, back and side panels, said top panel flanges contacting and overlying the exterior of said front, back and side panels,

e. fastener means for holding said panels in said interengaged relationship whereby an airtight chamber is formed for enclosing and extinguishing said fire, and

f. handle means for lifting and moving said chamber.

5. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the top is in the shape of a trapezium.

6. A fire extinguisher as in claim 5 wherein the sides are in the shape of trapeziums.

7. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein said metal is aluminum.

8. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the screw holes are provided in said flanges and said fastener means comprise self-threading screws.

9. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the inwardly stepped portions of said side panels comprise inwardly offset lateral edge portions in planes which are parallel to the planes of said panels and wherein said flanges extend approximately normally to said offset lateral edge portions, whereby when said flanges are seated in said corner relationship said corners will present relatively smooth and flush exteriors.

10. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the flanges on said front panel and the flanges on said side panel which engage the front panel extend at angles of approximately and wherein the flanges on said rear panel and the flanges on said side panels which engage said rear panel extend at angles of approximately 95.

11. A fire extinguisher as in claim 10 wherein the saide flanges on said top panel extend at approximately and said front and back flanges on said top panel extend at approximately 85 and respectively. 

1. A fire extinguisher of the type described, adapted to extinguish fires in a fireplace, including glowing embers, burning logs, and the like, comprising generally quadrilaterally shaped top, front, back and side panels, said panels possessing flange means for detachably interconnecting Said panels, said front and back and said side panels being generally opposed, extending from the peripheral edges of said top panel, and forming in combination with said top panel an airtight chamber which, when placed over and enclosing a fire, prevents further combustion and extinguishes said fire, and said flanges being joined to one another by fastener means whereby said chamber is readily assembled for use and readily disassembled for storage or shipment.
 2. A fire extinguisher as in claim 1 wherein the said top panel is substantially trapezoidally shaped.
 3. A fire extinguisher as in claim 2 wherein the said side panels are substantially trapezoidally shaped.
 4. A fire extinguisher of the type described, adapted to extinguish fires in fireplaces including glowing embers, burning logs and the like, comprising a. a generally quadrilaterally shaped metal, top panel having front, back and side flanges extending downwardly from all of the peripheral surfaces thereof, b. a generally quadrilaterally shaped, metal, front panel having flanges extending rearwardly from the vertical peripheral surfaces thereof, c. a generally quadrilaterally shaped, metal, rear panel being generally opposed to said front panel and having flanges extending frontwardly from ther vertical peripheral surfaces thereof, d. generally quadrilaterally shaped, metal, side panels, being generally opposed to one another and having flanges extending inwardly from the vertical peripheral edges thereof, said edges being stepped inwardly, whereby said front, back and side panels may be interengaged by seating said flanges into a contacting and sealing corner relationship and said top panel may be interconnected by bringing it into overlying and sealing relationship with top, peripheral unflanged edges of said front, back and side panels, said top panel flanges contacting and overlying the exterior of said front, back and side panels, e. fastener means for holding said panels in said interengaged relationship whereby an airtight chamber is formed for enclosing and extinguishing said fire, and f. handle means for lifting and moving said chamber.
 5. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the top is in the shape of a trapezium.
 6. A fire extinguisher as in claim 5 wherein the sides are in the shape of trapeziums.
 7. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein said metal is aluminum.
 8. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the screw holes are provided in said flanges and said fastener means comprise self-threading screws.
 9. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the inwardly stepped portions of said side panels comprise inwardly offset lateral edge portions in planes which are parallel to the planes of said panels and wherein said flanges extend approximately normally to said offset lateral edge portions, whereby when said flanges are seated in said corner relationship said corners will present relatively smooth and flush exteriors.
 10. A fire extinguisher as in claim 4 wherein the flanges on said front panel and the flanges on said side panel which engage the front panel extend at angles of approximately 85* and wherein the flanges on said rear panel and the flanges on said side panels which engage said rear panel extend at angles of approximately 95*.
 11. A fire extinguisher as in claim 10 wherein the saide flanges on said top panel extend at approximately 90* and said front and back flanges on said top panel extend at approximately 85* and 95*, respectively. 